X-Message-Number: 7500
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 09:34:34 -0500 (EST)
From: Ben Best <>
Subject: Marketing cryonics

    Although this topic has nearly played itself out, I still want to 
add my two cents. 

    It seems to me that the marketing debate contained some assumed
positions that need to be stated explicitly: (1) cryonics resources
are scarce, therefore a choice has to be made as to whether time,
money & energy will be spent on marketing or research; (2) marketing
cryonics research (eg Prometheus) is distinct from marketing human
cryopreservation; (3) marketing human cryopreservation is evil because
the procedure has not been proven to work.

    The British Columbia government forbids the marketing of cryonics
in that Province to "protect consumers" from an unproven procedure. This
patronizing policy denies its citizens the opportunity to make an adult,
informed decision. It is also indicative of the values most people share
-- values very contrary to my own. 

     For most people, physical pain & economic cost are great evils, but
death is just an inevitable relief from this "veil of tears". But to me --
and I am not alone in this -- death is a great evil and I am willing to
undergo great pain, hardship and cost for even a small chance of defeating
it. I resent the patronizing efforts of others to "protect" me -- or
to "protect" others who share my values. (As a teenager I chose the pain
of dental drilling without anaesthetic because of my belief that drugs 
are unhealthy. As an adult I have chosen hunger of Caloric Restriction
with Adequate Nutrition as a means of extending my life).

    I do not believe that marketing human cryopreservation is evil. I
believe it offers a credible chance at survival, and that if some people
actually survive because of the process, they will be immensely grateful
for all they have endured. I will be. And people will be grateful for 
having been informed of this choice.

    The biggest obstacles I see to cryonics working for me personally are
(1) cryonics organizations will not survive and (2) my chances of being
cryopreserved before considerable ischemic injury are currently small.
Paul Wakfer brought a PIB (Portable Ice Bath) to Toronto, but he is only
here for brief periods. What is missing is the human resources for mutual
aid in cryonics emergencies. Only "marketing" will cause there to be
enough signed-up cryonicists in the area for there to be good local 
response if something happens to me.

    Concerning allocation of resources between marketing & research, I see
this as a false dichotomy -- much like the "mind/body problem". Mike
Darwin almost said as much himself in his references to the work he did
at Alcor. Cryonics is a complex enterprise which can benefit from skills
in many areas: research, marketing, legal, financial, computer,
engineering, publication, etc. People who are gifted with special talents
-- or even willing to do simple tasks -- can serve cryonics in diverse 
ways. Research supports marketing and vice-versa. "Consumer
cryopreservation" gives valuable practice and can contribute to research.

                 -- Ben Best 


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